‘Ayya': Cheran announces biopic on PMK founder S. Ramadoss; Aari Arujunan to play the lead
Cheran unveiled first-look posters on his X handle. The posters feature Aari as Ramadoss, orating to his followers. The tagline reads, 'The Lion of Tamil Nadu.'
The posters hint that the film will touch upon the 1987 Vanniyar reservation agitation spearheaded by Ramadoss, which forced the DMK government led by M. Karunanidhi to create a 'most backwards' quota with 20 per cent reservation in education and employment in 1989.
ALSO READ: Explained | Why did the Madras High Court invalidate separate quota for Vanniyar community?
Details regarding the rest of the cast remain unknown at the moment. Ayya has music scored by Sundaramurthy KS (8 Thottakkal, Bommai Nayagi), cinematography by Ekhambram and editing by Pon Kathiresh. GKM Tamil Kumaran produces the film under his Tamil Kumaran Productions banner.
Meanwhile, wishes have been pouring in for the PMK founder. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president M.K. Stalin and AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami, and other leaders extended their birthday greetings to S. Ramadoss on Friday. Mr. Stalin in a social media post wished the PMK founder a long life and wished that he continue his public life.
In a social media post, Mr. Palaniswami said he called Mr. Ramadoss over phone to express his birthday greetings.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
41 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
A life on the line: South Indian stunt artists battle danger without a safety net
He was the original action hero, a man who dared to do what no one else would. On November 16, 1980, Malayalam superstar Jayan strapped himself to a dream—and a helicopter. While shooting the climax of Kolilakkam in Sholavaram near Chennai, he leapt from a moving motorcycle onto a hovering Bell 47. The scene was already in the can, but Jayan, ever the perfectionist, wanted a retake. What followed was horror: the helicopter spun out of control and crashed. Jayan was killed instantly. He was 41. More than four decades later, the story repeats itself—this time in Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu. On July 13, 2025, S. Mohanraj, known in the industry as SM Raju, one of Tamil cinema's seasoned stunt masters, died performing a high-speed car stunt for director Pa Ranjith's upcoming film Vettuvam. The vehicle overturned during filming. He was rushed to the hospital but could not be saved. These aren't isolated tragedies. Last year, a car chase gone wrong during the filming of Bromance left actors Arjun Ashokan and Sangeet Prathap injured, prompting a Motor Vehicles Department case for overspeeding. In 2016, two stuntmen drowned during the shoot of Masti Gudi, a Kannada film. The two—Uday Raghav and Anil Kumar—jumped from a helicopter into a reservoir without life jackets. They drowned. The film's lead actor, who wore a life jacket, survived.
New Indian Express
2 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Maareesan Movie Review: A pleasant ride derailed by a string of unpleasant surprises
This is not the first time we have seen Vadivelu in a full-fledged non-comedic role, and certainly not the last time anybody is going to talk about the actor's seismic impact on Tamil pop culture. What is still surprising is how celebrated and yet unexplored his acting range is. Both in Maamannan and Maareesan, there are instances where Vadivelu breaks down after a moment of abject powerlessness, with similar emotions but wildly different reasons behind them. And yet, you don't see traces of his earlier characters. Sometimes, there is no Maamannan, Velayudham, or even Vadivelu, but just a man conveying a feeling authentic enough that it even crosses the context of a functional scene to move you. From world view to general countenance, there is a stark difference in characterisation between Dhayalan and Velayudham, and it is wonderfully accentuated by Fahadh's nonchalance. He could have played the well-established 'charming scammer' trope for this role and gotten away with it, but he never does. The actor achieves more by doing less and walks away with your respect.
News18
3 hours ago
- News18
Akshay Kumar Opens Up About Decision To Insure 650 Lives: ‘I'm A Stuntman First And...'
Last Updated: Akshay Kumar insured 650 stuntmen, calling himself 'a stuntman first.' He launched the initiative in 2017 to ensure health and accident coverage for action crew members. In a heartfelt gesture, Akshay Kumar insured 650 stuntmen following the shocking news of the tragic death of stuntman SM Raju on the set of Pa Ranjith and Arya's upcoming Tamil film. This gesture by the actor was received with open arms, with fans and industry people praising him. Now, Akshay Kumar has opened up about his decision to insure the stuntmen. In an interview with Hindustan Times, the actor said, 'I'm a stuntman first and an actor next," and recounted how in 2017 he started financing the stuntmen quietly. The actor recalled that there was no such system of insurance for stuntmen, despite the incredibly dangerous nature of their job, which bothered him. Later, in collaboration with heart specialist Dr. Panda, Akshay—with permission from the stuntmen association—took the initiative and kickstarted an insurance scheme dedicated to stuntmen. After Akshay insured the lives of about 650 to 700 stuntmen, veteran stunt professional Vikram Singh Dahiya, known for his work in films like Dhadak 2, Jigra, Gunjan Saxena, Antim, and OMG 2, expressed his appreciation for Akshay's gesture. 'Thanks to Akshay sir, around 650 to 700 stuntmen and action crew members in Bollywood are now covered under insurance," he said. 'The policy includes both health and accident coverage. If a stunt performer is injured, whether on or off set, they can avail of cashless medical treatment up to ₹5 to ₹5.5 lakh." On the professional front, Akshay Kumar was last seen in Housefull 5. He is also reuniting with longtime collaborator Saif Ali Khan in Priyadarshan's newly announced film Haiwaan. The director recently shared a photo of the two actors watching the India vs England Test match at Lord's Cricket Stadium in London. Akshay and Saif have previously worked together in hits like Main Khiladi Tu Anari, Yeh Dillagi, Aarzoo, Tu Chor Main Sipahi, and Keemat. They were last seen together in the 2008 action-comedy Tashan, also starring Kareena Kapoor Khan and Anil Kapoor. Akshay Kumar is also working on two more projects with Priyadarshan: Bhoot Bangla, a horror comedy, and the much-anticipated Hera Pheri 3. First Published: July 26, 2025, 19:04 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
